Why I support St. Jude:
Thank you for visiting my St. Jude Runs fundraising page!
For those that know me are very much aware of my "why" I support St. Jude as I talk about it pretty much non stop! For those that don't know me I'll try to explain as brief as possible. I don't know who I'm trying to fool, I don't know what brief means! LOL
In 1975 I was diagnosed with a cancer called Neuroblastoma. At the time there was about a 5 to 10 percent survival rate with this type of cancer. My family was given the options of 2 hospitals to be referred to. One was in Indianapolis Indiana and the other was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. they explained the differences in the two with the biggest being there was no cost at St. Jude. My father asked what happened when insurance ran out at the Indianapolis hospital and he was told treatment would stop. My parents chose St. Jude and as it is today my family never received a bill. They flew us there and back every round of chemo, paid for our hotel, paid for our food, and paid for all treatment including chemo, radiation, and surgery.
Probably one of the biggest things I remember when we got there was it seemed as if we were treated like royalty. Everyone was kind, caring, and encouraging. I mean everyone was from the doctors, nurses, orderlies, cafeteria staff, the lady that took care of arranging transportation, and janitorial staff. It remains the same today. I'm part of the St. Jude Life program where I go back about every 5 years for 3 days of testing for them to learn what effects treatment has had on me with time. I'm still treated today just as I was at 14 years old.
In 2013 I was again diagnosed with cancer and it came back in the same area of my body where it was when I was 14 years old. This time I was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma and just more evidence that I will never grow up, this is usually a childhood cancer! LOL The reason I bring this up is that I was probably saved by research that was done back when I was a patient in 1975 as St. Jude shares all their research so everyone benefits from their discoveries.
Since I've been running and raising money for St. Jude over the past several years I've always wanted to do this Memphis to Peoria St. Jude run. I know there are usually some other former patients on this run and I just feel a need to raise money and run along side these fellow St. Jude Warriors. It's going to be such an honor to be a part of this team!!
St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer, and neither will I. Will you support me by making a donation today? Let’s cross the finish line together!